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DavMar
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Aug 2017
Location: Lexington, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 592
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Topic: Eco-diesel Posted: 07 Oct 2018 at 4:20pm |
Yes, everyone knows the cost of a diesel power truck is much more up front and the mpg is less then gasoline. Yet here is the thing a properly cared for diesel engine will last way, way, WAY beyond a gas engine and it will out pull it too. Any question about that then just ask yourself why they don't put gasoline engines in tractor trailers and buses? If you don't mind paying the premium and you plan on keeping a truck or car until the body falls off, plus you want a vehicle that will out pull everything on the road then diesel is the way to go. Though I have to disagree with Richand Cindy in that I've never heard of when you change oil in a diesel engine that "they add oil drain and repeat three times" that doesn't make sense! Yes it cost more for an oil change because the engine holds more oil and the filter is usually more expensive.
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Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC
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Richand Cindy
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Apr 2016
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 328
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 4:11pm |
I agree with everyone. You need to really keep the diesel for a long time and at least a hundred thousand miles on it to really get the value from it. We only got it because it was a left over and was $2000 more than the 5.7 hemi engine. If we had to pay $4270 premium for it (sticker price) I think we probably would not have done it. But for towing it is great with all that torque. And the gas mileage is that good because it is not 4x4. We will never be in snow with it. Another reason why it was so cheap. Nobody wants a 4x2 diesel.
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OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4508
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 4:10pm |
I agree, we are getting 20-21 on the highway and 14 towing the pod, so I am content with that.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 3:46pm |
+1 to Glueguy. I'm keeping my old gasser.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Jholler
Groupie
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 99
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 2:16pm |
Premium is about $5k. As for the fuel cost, I run the recommended 89 octane in my Hemi as it is to keep it from knocking, so it's around the same price as diesel, but I'd be getting 2-3 times the fuel mileage. (I average 10.2mpg in town).
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GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2630
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 12:46pm |
Originally posted by Richand Cindy
We bought a 2017 Ram Diesel to tow our new Keystone Passport (4700 lbs). We get 26-28 mpg. Pulling the trailer we get 13-14 MPG. The power is amazing. With our Jeep Cherokee pulling the RPOD we could feel the strain if we went above 65 and kept it at 58-60. With the RAM we pass trucks on hills and often look down and see we are doing 75 mph and hit the brakes. The gas mileage would be even better if we slowed down. But with the equalizer WDH we forget we are pulling a railer. They say the break even point for a diesel engine is five years. Oil changes take one hour (they add oil drain and repeat three times) and costs 3-4 times a regular car. But we love ours. Has 11,000 miles and no problems with it. |
I question whether the payback is in 5 years. I'm sure it's possible, but what is the premium for the Eco-diesel? $3000? (that's a guess, I did not look it up). Add to that that diesel (around here anyway) is a 20% premium over straight gasoline, and that oil changes are a lot more expensive, and I have a hard time justifying that the mileage is maybe 50% better unloaded. We spend maybe $3000-$4000 for gasoline over a 3 year period.
I have no doubt that you're happy with your Eco-diesel, and I don't want to sound like I'm dissing it (because I'm not). However, I do have my doubts. I expect that it certainly would pay for itself if your annual mileage was high enough. At our 12,000-15,000 miles per year, I don't think we would qualify for the Eco-diesel discount.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Richand Cindy
Senior Member
Joined: 16 Apr 2016
Location: New Jersey
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 328
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Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 12:22pm |
We bought a 2017 Ram Diesel to tow our new Keystone Passport (4700 lbs). We get 26-28 mpg. Pulling the trailer we get 13-14 MPG. The power is amazing. With our Jeep Cherokee pulling the RPOD we could feel the strain if we went above 65 and kept it at 58-60. With the RAM we pass trucks on hills and often look down and see we are doing 75 mph and hit the brakes. The gas mileage would be even better if we slowed down. But with the equalizer WDH we forget we are pulling a railer. They say the break even point for a diesel engine is five years. Oil changes take one hour (they add oil drain and repeat three times) and costs 3-4 times a regular car. But we love ours. Has 11,000 miles and no problems with it.
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OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel
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Jholler
Groupie
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 99
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Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 9:08am |
Heck, with a 10yr/100k power train warranty, even that isn't a deal killer for 29mpg!
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4508
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Posted: 22 Sep 2018 at 5:50am |
My brother is a dodge mechanic, I inquired about them a while back. He advised that they were having trouble with cam shafts breaking within the first 15,000 miles.
If Dodge has addressed that, it would be very tempting with those numbers.
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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disputin
Newbie
Joined: 03 Jan 2018
Location: WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 27
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Posted: 21 Sep 2018 at 9:55pm |
My father has one. He gets nearly 29 empty and this summer he got 20 pulling a 3000 lbs chalet (much smaller wind profile than my rpod).
Sean
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Sean & Christine Whitney
2002 F150
2016 179HRE
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